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Ministry
Gautama Buddha with his protector Vajrapani (here holding a flywisk). Gandhara, 2nd century
CE.
For the remaining 45 years of his life, the Buddha is said to have traveled in the Gangetic Plain, in
what is now Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and southern Nepal, teaching his doctrine and discipline to an
extremely diverse range of people— from nobles to outcaste street sweepers, mass murderers such
as Angulimala and cannibals such as Alavaka. This extended to many adherents of rival
philosophies and religions. The Buddha founded the community of Buddhist monks and nuns (the
Sangha) to continue the dispensation after his Parinirvāna (Pāli: Parinibbāna) or "complete
Nirvāna", and made thousands of converts. His religion was open to all races and classes and had
no caste structure. He was also subject to attack from opposition religious groups, including
attempted murders and framings.
The sangha travelled from place to place in India, expounding the dharma. This occurred
throughout the year, except during the four months of the vassana rainy season. Due to the heavy
amount of flooding, travelling was difficult, and ascetics of all religions in that time did not travel,
since it was more difficult to do so without stepping on submerged animal life, unwittingly killing
them. During this period, the sangha would retreat to a monastery, public park or a forest and
people would come to them.
The first vassana was spent at Varanasi when the sangha was first formed. After this, he travelled
to Rajagaha, the capital of Magadha to visit King Bimbisara, in accordance with his promise after
enlightenment. It was during this visit that Sariputta and Mahamoggallana were converted by
Assaji, one of the first five disciples; they were to become the Buddha's two foremost disciples.
The Buddha then spent the next three seasons at Veluvana Bamboo Grove monastery in Rajagaha,
the capital of Magadha. The monastery, which was of a moderate distance from the city centre was
donated by Bimbisara.
Upon hearing of the enlightenment, Suddhodana dispatched royal delegations to ask the Buddha to
return to Kapilavastu. Nine delegations were sent in all, but the delegates joined the sangha and
became arahants. Neglecting worldly matters, they did not convey their message. The tenth
delegation, lead by Kaludayi, a childhood friend, resulted in the message being successfully
conveyed as well as becoming an arahant. Since it was not the vassana, the Buddha agreed, and
two years after his enlightenment, took a two month journey to Kapilavastu by foot, preaching the
dharma along the way. Upon his return, the royal palace had prepared the midday meal, but since
no specific invitation had come, the sangha went for an alms round in Kapilavastu. Hearing this,